LAS VEGAS, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The results are in and Southwest Gas
Corporation (NYSE: SWX) once again leads the nation in growth for natural gas
utilities. According to President and Chief Executive Officer Michael O.
Maffie, the company, with headquarters in Las Vegas, Nev., added nearly
63,000 new homes and businesses in 2000, a 5 percent growth rate. At the end
of the year, the company was serving more than 1,337,000 customers in Arizona,
Nevada, and parts of California.

The company's Southern Nevada Division in Las Vegas, which recently added
its 400,000th customer, led the company in growth in 2000, adding nearly
26,000 new homes and businesses, a 7 percent increase. The new customer count
affirms Las Vegas as one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States.

The Central Arizona Division, with headquarters in Phoenix, added
21,300 new homes and businesses last year, bringing its customer base to
424,700, a 5 percent increase. The central Arizona metropolitan area
accounted for nearly 65,800 new jobs last year, more than 70 percent of the
state's total.

The year 2000 was the seventh consecutive year in which company-wide
customer growth has been at least 5 percent. "There is no other local
distribution, natural gas utility in the country that has these kinds of
numbers," Maffie said.

"Our focus remains fixed," said Maffie. "Southwest Gas recognizes the
competitive arena it is in. As a result, we continue to lead the nation
because we maintain an aggressive pro-growth position. Builders and
developers, businesses and residential customers alike know they can count on
us for providing the best in quality of service."

Southwest Gas has budgeted $228 million this year to install new mains and
services and upgrade existing facilities throughout the company. "In the long
term, our aggressive position on growth will reap shareholders' value through
increased revenues and improved earnings," Maffie said.

This press release may contain statements which constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 (Reform Act). All such forward-looking statements are
intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided by the Reform
Act. A number of important factors affecting the business and financial
results of the company could cause actual results to differ materially from
those stated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but
are not limited to, the impact of weather variations on customer usage,
natural gas prices, the effects of regulation/deregulation, the timing and
amount of rate relief, changed in capital requirements and funding,
acquisitions, and competition.SOURCE Southwest Gas CorporationWeb site: http: //www.southwestgas.comCompany News On-Call: http: //www.prnewswire.com/comp/804969.html or fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 804969CONTACT: media, Roger Buehrer, APR, 702-876-7132, or shareholders, Laura Hobbs, 702-876-7237, both for Southwest Gas Corporation